Timing Confession Properly: 1 Samuel 7:5-6
The best apology is the apology coming after evidence of repentance is visible. It is good to apologize for a mistake, but the most heartfelt apology is one where the wronged individual can see evidence of correction to alleviate the possibility of similar future mistakes. Nobody is perfect, a fact we should be quick to remember, but it is still good to show people an attempt to do better.
Once the people put away their idols and ceased worshipping the gods of war and the gods of fertility, Samuel called the people together at Mizpah. He was the judge over the people. He was the leader of the nation. God gave the ark to Eleazar son of Abinadab to handle the religious rites so Samuel would be freed to lead.
So far, Samuel has held people accountable. Samuel set expectations – put away your foreign gods – and demanded people live up to the standard. Here’s the thing about leadership. Anyone can call themselves a leader. Words are cheap and titles are usually cheaper still. The only way to tell if someone is a leader is to look behind them. If nobody is following, the person is not a leader. Leaders, by the very definition of the word, lead people. They have followers. Leaders set expectations, model them, and then invite people to do as they do.
Samuel called the Hebrew people to Mizpah, and they come. He told the people to get rid of their idols, and they did. The people were following.
What does Samuel do next? Samuel leads the people in worship. He had the people draw water, pour it out, and then fast. Why are these details important? They are evidence that Samuel is leading them into God’s presence. The pouring out of water is a symbolic act of confessing our sin before God. Fasting is a symbol of a person desiring to commune with God and perhaps even change something within. Samuel is meeting the people where they are and helping them come into the presence of God. This is worship.
Samuel may not be the priest in charge of the sacrifices and the ark, but that doesn’t mean he has no religious authority. As the judge, he is using his place to take a position of religious authority. Samuel doesn’t want to lead only in the military or even legal arenas; Samuel wants to be a leader in spirituality as well.
As such, Samuel has the people confess their sins. The timing of the event is noteworthy. Samuel has the people confess their sin after they adjusted their sinful behavior and demonstrated change. Samuel asks the people to confess their sins after God sees evidence of their repentance.
People say they are sorry all the time; the words I’m sorry have almost become a throw-away phrase. You can tell if someone is genuinely sorry when they alter their behavior. The best apology is the apology done after evidence of repentance is already visible.
